Tooth-cleaning implement.



'PATBNTED MAR. 15, 1904.

G. 0. BBSSONET. TOOTH CLEANING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION IILBD NOY.28,1903.

N0 MODEL.

aeoiye Y"" NORRI5 PETERS c0, PHOTOUTMO wuumwom u c.

Patented March 15, 1904.

PATENT GF ICE.

GEORGE C. BESSONET, OF OHANNING, TEXAS.

TOOTH-CLEANING IIVIPLEI VIENT.

SPECIFIQQATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 754,841, dated March 15, 1904.

Application filed November 28, 1903. Serial No. 183,064. (No model.)

To mil. w/wm/ it nan/y concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE C. BnssoNE'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghanning, in the county of Hartley and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tooth-Cleaning Implements,of which the following is a specification This invention relates to tooth-cleaning implements of that class having a strand exposed across a portion thereof for insertion between the teeth to remove sediment and small particles of food; and the object of the same is to simplify devices of this character and equip them with means for controlling the feed of the strand and reliably hold the latter under proper tension, the several parts being compact and comparatively simple in construction, as well as convenient in assemblage or disconnection.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts, which will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of an implement embodying the features of the invention and shown broken away in part. Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the implement. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of a feed-controlling plug forming part of the implement.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a handle or grip, 2 a screw-cap for closing a bobbin-chamber 3 in the rear end of the handle, and 4 a forked head having arms 5 deflected at an angle, as clearly shown by Fig. 2, and terminally provided with seat-grooves 6. The forked head 4 is removably secured to the handle 1 by a screw-tlneaded shank 7, and extending transversely into the handle near the end to which the head is attached is a tension-screw or similar device 8. The handle is formed with a longitudinal groove 9, leading from an outlet-opening 10, communicating with the bobbin chamber or cavity 3 at the rear end of the handle and continuing through an enlarged front end 11 of said handle. The outer portion of one of the arms 5 is also formed with a groove 12, and in the opposite arm is a headed securingstud 13. A bobbin 14 is rotatably held in the chamber or cavity 3 and is adapted to be filled with a strand 15. This strand may consist of waxed or other thread or silk floss ordinarily used for dental purposes and is drawn outwardly through the opening 10, passed upwardly through the groove 9 to the tensionscrew 8, and then through the grooved arm 5 and across the terminals of both arms and the end wound on the headed securing-stud, as clearly shown by Fig. 1. The tension-screw 8 is used to give the strand sufficient tightness, especially across the forked head 4, so that it may be practically inserted between and withdrawn from the teeth.

The one end, 16, of the bobbin is reduced and rotatably engages a socket 17 in the inner end wall of the chamber or cavity 3. The opposite end, 18, of the bobbin is squared or angular in cross-section and removably fitted in a correspondingly-shaped socket 19 in the head of a plug 20, rotatably mounted in the cap 2. The plug 20 has astem 21, which rotatably projects through the cap 2 and is provided with a rear or outer milled head 22, which is always held eXteriorly of the cap. The chamber or cavity 3 is rendered readily accessible for disposition of the bobbin 14: therein by removing the cap 2, and simultaneously the plug 20 is withdrawn. The bobbin then has its squared or angular extremity 18 fitted in the socket 19 and projected centrally into the said chamber or cavity, when the cap is applied and caused to accurately register with the cavity 17 at the inner end of the said chamber 3. The strand is then drawn outwardly through the opening 10 and arranged as heretofore eX- plained. WVhen it is desired to unwindthe strand from the bobbin, the plug is turned through the medium of the milled head 22 to release as muchof the strand as may be necessary and refills the part thereof which has been used and disposed across the endsof the arms of the forked head 4:. The plug, though rotatably disposed in the cap 2, is held snug enough to prevent free movement of the bobbin, and by the use of the plug independof the strand held across the ends of the arms of the forked head 4 is inserted between the teeth it may be oscillated to thoroughly remove the sediment or particles of food or other matter without injuring the enamel or gums. The parts of the improved device may also be quickly assembled and disconnected for compact storage and also with advantage in the manufacture of the same. The handle and cap will be preferably constructed of wood or other suitable material, whereas itis proposed to form the head 4 and plug 20 of metal.

Changes in the proportions and dimensions may be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new is In an implement of the class set forth, the combination of a handle having a forked head at one end and a longitudinally-disposed chamher in the opposite end, a removable cap to close the said chamber, said cap carrying a rotatable plug having an angular socket in its inner end exposed to the said chamber, and a milled head at its rear end adjacent to the outer surface of the cap, and a bobbin having a strand thereon removably disposed in longitudinal position in the chamber and having its rear end shaped similarly to and fitted in the angular socket at the inner end of the plug, the opposite end of the bobbin rotatabl yen gaging the front wall of the chamber, the strand carried by the bobbin being drawn over the forked head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE C. BESSONET.

-Witnesses:

BEN LAWSON,

C. H. FARWELL. 

